JONATHAN DOUGH - Just because you are a Christian doesn't mean your way of life is the ONLY right way. Many of us agnostics or atheists are not " God haters " as you call us. We just don't believe in a God, or in the case of us agnostics - we do not KNOW if there is a God. There is nothing wrong with that view. Many agnostics or atheist act more Christian in their lives with loving qualities than many alleged real " Christians " I've known over the years. It's not a " mistake " to turn your back on scriptures- it's an alternative life style. And not good or bad.
You state in your post : " From the Almighty's perspective you are better off in the cult and believing in him than denying him. " Oh really ? How is a person better off believing in lies and false illusions of the WT society promising a fake paradise and keeping people in fear of a never going to happen Armageddon ? And I'm sure the JW older people are better off giving $$$$ and inheritances to the top dogs at WT society so the GB can have a nice , comfortable retirement ? While older witnesses go on food stamps and live in poverty so the WT powers can live easy ?
I have 84 and 82 year old parents who have been deceived by the WT mind control since 1951 . They never thought they would die - EVER ! Try telling me that my dad who is a long time elder and perplexed about the fact he even GOT to this age in this " wicked system " was better off being lied to all those years. What good did it do him ? Did it make him live longer ? Nope. He will die like you and me Jonathan , and everybody else. Whether there IS anything after death - I guess we will ALL find out once we get to the other side of life after dying ourselves.
Until then - I still believe there is NOTHING wrong with saying we just don't know. I'm a happy person . Just because a person exits the witnesses doesn't mean they HAVE to join another religion and fall under control again ! If they choose to be agnostic or atheist - they can be just as happy and successful as someone who chooses to join a new church. There is no " right way " or " wrong way " to exit the JW cult. Just get the hell out of the cult. Doesn't matter.
GL TIREBITER- Good points you make . Exactly. The WT socoiety makes it's members feel one inch tall and cuts them down to size constantly telling them how sinful and imperfect and weak they are. It's ridiculous. It's a mind control tactic they use to keep members feeling unworthy of even thinking for themselves and using their own minds. They WANT members to rely TOTALLY on the WT sociey for advice so they can control them. If a person becomes non-religious after exiting the witnesses though- it DOESN' T mean they will fall apart or become a bad person. That is a scare tactic ALL cults and religions use to keep members fearful of leaving. You are right people will have their ups and downs after leaving the witnesses - but at least they are ALLOWED to have their ups and downs ! And THAT is the difference after exiting the witnesses. We were not allowed to be spiritually down inside Jehovah's Witnesses - or we'd be thought of as being " spiritually weak " and be shunned. The elders make people feel that if they are " weak spiritually " they are deemed " wicked or sinful ".
So now we have the option of being strong or weak - but without being judged ! Isn't that an amazing free feeling to have ? Peace out, Mr. Flipper